Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me - Aether Inglewood Second Life

A machinima from Aether Inglewood

"Aether Inglewood builds a her first airship in Second Life. Stand back this could get ugly."


IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 Luftwaffe Guncamera

an IL-2 machinima from JG52Karaya, who wrote:
Various guncamera scenes covering the Battle of France, Battle of Britain and early African theatre. Footage taken from "IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946" under full realism settings.

Recorded with Fraps, edited with VirtualDub and finalized with MovieMaker



Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Diana Krall - New Years Eve

"What Are You Doing New Years Eve?"

Spitfire IL2 movie

an IL-2 machinima from Unnamed6661

"Flying" a video by Sam Fuller


Flying from Sam Fuller on Vimeo.

All My Internet Friends

All My Internet Friends

a song by Amanda French

Monday afternoon I gave a presentation to the staff
Kicked off with a knock-knock joke to liven up the charts and graphs
That crowd
Never laughs out loud
But all my internet friends were tickled pink
They put animated smileys when they passed around the link
They said, Hey, girl, here’s another awesome thing we found
Sarah Palin getting smacked down
With a Prince song in the background
Better watch it quick before they take it down

Wednesday night I figured I’d go out and buy a DVD
Walked into a store and walked right out again immediately
This sucks
They want thirty bucks

But all my internet friends give things away
They just really like to make stuff even when it doesn’t pay
They say, Hey, girl, here’s a picture, here’s a poem too
Here’s a blog post, here’s a podcast
Here’s a song and here’s a lolcat
And an iPhone application all for you

Saturday I had a date with Dave the software engineer
Told him bout the time I got my headphones wrapped around my ear
I swear
He just didn’t care

But all my internet friends they listen well
They make sympathetic comments when I say that I’m in hell
They say, Hey, girl, what’s your status? I say, Omigod,
I’m not sleeping, I’m not eating
I can’t take another meeting
With the clean, well-meaning morons at my job

There are those who say I spend a little too much time online
Sometimes I agree, but on the whole I think I’m doing fine
Click, buzz
I feel strong because
All my internet friends are here with me
Saying Love and information want only to be free
And we’ll take no crap from anyone who says that they know better
We won’t stand for that because we all came here together
We’re remaining interwoven
We’re a net, and we have chosen
To be knotted tightly to each other
You be client, I’ll be server
We won’t ever have to be alone


All My Internet Friends

Monday, December 29, 2008

TimeForce 10 Test Machinima

This is an experimental machinima with various video captured within the virtual world of Second Life for a multi-sim science-fiction espionage roleplay adventure which my group is playing both inworld and offGrid on various blogs, etc.

These are test shots edited together featuring Avery Robbiani and Aether Inglewood with music from "The Prisoner" added for a little flavor.

Thanks Aether and Avery!

RCAF Air Combat - 28 December 2008

Below is a photograph of RCAF pilots after our final scheduled air combat in Second Life. Sunday 28 December 2008. Pictured from left to right Whitewolf Mumfuzz, Vickster Kuhn, Cornelius Fanshaw, GoSpeed Racer, Aether Inglewood. Zoe Connolly, and Crosshaven Barbosa.

Participants not pictured: Avery Robbiani, Dan Gervasi, Lord Lisle, and Sin Trenton



God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
~ Reinhold Niebuhr

I'll no longer schedule air combat for the weekends. We'll still dogfight, but conditions in the remaining OpenSpace sims are such, that event planning for a large number of scripted planes is now impossible. The load on sims is too great. I can't announce a dogfight and then have too many show up to participate effectively. I went over a few options and the best solution is for individual pilots to find each other using group chat. My guess is no more than groups of 4 pilots per dogfight per combat area.

RCAF still lives on!

We're working on ramping up the roleplay with our TimeForce 10 multi-sim science-fiction espionage adventures.

One era ends and another begins.

IL-2 The Magic of Flight

an IL-2 machinima from fight2flyphoto

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Aether Chronicles: RCAF Last Organized Dogfight

Aether Chronicles: RCAF Last Organized Dogfight


"....Due to the Open Space issues in Second Life, today marks the last of Royal Caledon Air Force's weekly organized dog fights. As I joked today with Zoe Connolly due to my performance in the skies above Lovelace this morning I wouldn't be missing them very much. That of course is not true...."

Read the rest of Aether's essay here: Aether Chronicles: RCAF Last Organized Dogfight

Our Last Scheduled Dogfight is Today....(Dec 28)

This is it. Our last scheduled Air Combat in Second Life...

This doesn't mean that we will not be dogfighting again, this only means we will no longer schedule our dogfights during the week. Pilots are free to use Extropia Defense Force (EDF) or Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) group chat to arrange 1-on-1 dogfights or even up to 4 fighter pilots depending on sim-load. All of that is up to you now. Experiment, Have Fun, and Chalk Up The Kills ;)

We'll begin a new era of EDF and RCAF with more emphasis on roleplay and your own individual dogfights.

Our last scheduled dogfight....

Sunday 28 December 2008
Any aircraft you wish to fly....
9:00 AM SL time
Location: Lovelace Liberty



Clear Skies with love,

~ Zoe Connolly ~

IL-2 Airshow Two Trailer

an IL-2 machinima from jafaem

Saturday, December 27, 2008

TimeForce 10

TimeForce 10

The Secret Adventures of the Amazing TimeForce 10 from the Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA).

CIA HQ: Extropia with offices in 1967 London and 19th Century Caledon.

Front Group: Celestial Bodies Modeling Agency.

Our mission: Keeping Earth safe from Super-Villains, Rogue Agents, Malevolent Extraterrestrials, Temporal Anomalies, and Bureaucratic Red-Tape.

TimeForce 10

Our Last Scheduled Dogfights....

Here we are at our last scheduled Air Combat in Second Life...

This doesn't mean that we will not be dogfighting again, this only means we will no longer schedule our dogfights during the week. Pilots are free to use Extropia Defense Force (EDF) or Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) group chat to arrange 1-on-1 dogfights or even up to 4 fighter pilots depending on sim-load. All of that is up to you now. Experiment, Have Fun, and Chalk Up The Kills ;)

Now on to the weekend schedule....

Saturday 27 December 2008
World War 2 aircraft only per sim rules....
9:00 AM SL Time
Location: Aeronautica

Sunday 28 December 2008
Any aircraft you wish to fly....
9:00 AM SL time
Location: Lovelace Liberty

It's been a great pleasure arranging all this. Some of my best friends in SL are here in these aviation groups. There's something special about pilots ;)

Now we'll begin a new era of EDF and RCAF with more emphasis on roleplay and your own individual dogfights.

I love you guys and gals!

Clear Skies with love,

~ Zoe Connolly ~

Friday, December 26, 2008

Family Guy - So Quagmire's A Pilot

Glen Quagmire gives his passengers a little pilot-style info before takeoff. (Season 5: Episode 8)

TimeForce 10 - The Christmas Eve Raid (part 2)

Previously on TimeForce 10
TimeForce10 - The Christmas Eve Raid (part 1)





My mind yelled to get out of the way, but I kept firing until finally....



With the fuselage penetrated, a fuel line burst into flames.





TimeForce 10 Flickr Set

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Eartha Kitt, sultry singer and dancer, dies at 81

TimeForce 10 - The Christmas Eve Raid (part 1)

It happened so fast, there was little I could think about. I could only react...and react I did, thanks to training and experience.



At first the Sopwith looked like a friendly biplane coming in for a landing. The very unfriendly burst of machine-gun fire indicated otherwise....



"Who was this fiend who would attack my aerodrome on Christmas Eve?" I thought in disgust as I watched the Sopwith Camel make another turn for... no doubt... another strafing run.



He came at me again. I raised my guns and squeezed each trigger, firing my own bursts at this madman. He was now on a suicide run. The only question now was ... would I survive.



I was fixated on my target far too long. Finally I heard myself shout "Get out of the way, Zoe! Run! Jump!"



TimeForce 10 Flickr Set

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Apollo 8 - First Flight Around The Moon (December 1968)

40 years ago....

"Apollo 8 was the first manned voyage to a celestial body.

Its three-man crew of Mission Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders became the first humans to see the far side of the Moon.

The mission also involved the first manned launch of a Saturn V rocket, and was the second manned mission of the Apollo programme.

Originally planned as a low-Earth orbit Lunar Module/Command Module test, the mission profile was changed to the more ambitious lunar orbital flight in August 1968 when the Lunar Module scheduled for the flight became delayed. The new mission's profile, procedures and personnel requirements left an uncharacteristically short time-frame for training and preparation.

After launching on 21 December 1968, the crew took three days to travel to the Moon. They orbited ten times over the course of 20 hours, during which the crew made a Christmas Eve television broadcast in which they read from the Book of Genesis. At the time, the broadcast was the most watched TV programme ever. Apollo 8's successful mission paved the way for Apollo 11 to fulfill U.S. President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade."




(shorter length videos)

Apollo 8 Launch



Apollo 8 Christmas
Apollo 8's historic broadcast from the Moon on Christmas Eve 1968 from Astronauts Anders, Lovell, and Borman.

Christmas Songs and Secret Santa

Merry Christmas everyone ;)

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (HQ Audio)



Frank Sinatra & Bing Cosby - Christmas TV special



Mitzi Gaynor - "We Need a Little Christmas" (1967)



Secret Santa

Liberty Belle B17

Thank you from Sumie Kawashima's family

Original Group Notice sent to Independent State of Caledon group from: Diamanda Gustafson, resent to Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) group from: Zoe Connolly....


The family of Sumie Kawashima wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of support and love they have received from the Second Life community, and Caledon in particular.

"The multiple in-world memorials and remembrances have touched our hearts and is a testament to how much she was loved in Caledon and in real life. Sumie was laid to rest last week beside her mother in a small private ceremony. Thank you all for the love you showed our little Sumi. Peace, Sebastian (Sumie's fiance)"

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter in this virtual world. She went back to her mother, and we miss her. The honors you have given her here are also honors here, in the real world. Second Life and Caledon saved my daughter from herself, and for that I am eternally thankful. Signed, Sumie's father (name withheld by request)"

Spitfire Balbo

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mourning a Death, Celebrating a Life

Please indulge me this lengthy post for Sumie....

On Saturday 20 December 2008 at 09:00 SL time, pilots of the Royal Caledon Air Force mourned the RealLife loss of our fellow pilot Sumie Kawashima.

(Group photographs were not available due to the "Snapshot-Crashes" I encountered during the ceremony. Thanks to SimplyAmy Iwish for providing part of this chatlog)







[2008/12/20 9:06] Zoe Connolly: welcome everyone....
[2008/12/20 9:06] Zoe Connolly: we gather today to honor the life and second life of a dear young woman....
[2008/12/20 9:07] Zoe Connolly: who was taken from us at the RL age of 26
[2008/12/20 9:07] Zoe Connolly: in many ways.....she was like the spunky little daughter I never had
[2008/12/20 9:08] Zoe Connolly: She would show me her creations and we'd chat about our dreams
[2008/12/20 9:08] Zoe Connolly: and we shared those dreams together here in the RCAF
[2008/12/20 9:09] Zoe Connolly: in her short life, I hope that our time with her was a positive thing
[2008/12/20 9:10] Zoe Connolly: I know it was positive for me
[2008/12/20 9:11] Zoe Connolly: She would often tell me how I was an inspiration for her
[2008/12/20 9:11] Zoe Connolly: but she was an inspiration to me....
[2008/12/20 9:11] Zoe Connolly: because at various times when I wanted to give up...
[2008/12/20 9:12] Zoe Connolly: she was one of my group who urged me on
[2008/12/20 9:12] Zoe Connolly wipes a few tears
[2008/12/20 9:12] Zoe Connolly: if someone would like to say something please do....
[2008/12/20 9:13] Zoe Connolly: my hands are shaking ;)
[2008/12/20 9:13] Sin Trenton: Well, if I may? :)
[2008/12/20 9:13] Zoe Connolly: please do
[2008/12/20 9:13] Sin Trenton: You know. Sumie.. was red.
[2008/12/20 9:13] SimplyAmy Iwish: /bows her head in remembrance
[2008/12/20 9:14] Sin Trenton: Red is the colour of passion and life, it is the colour of blood and hearts
[2008/12/20 9:14] Sin Trenton: it is also the colour she favoured for her planes.
[2008/12/20 9:14] Zoe Connolly nods and smiles
[2008/12/20 9:14] Sin Trenton: Sumie was truly alive, active, tasting life and building was a joy to her. It was a picture of what life can be and should be, a journey full of discovery.
[9:15] Sin Trenton: We are all still shocked I think, that her journey was cut so short.
[9:15] Sin Trenton: But there is an old saying in the country where I come from
[9:16] Sin Trenton: From the Havamal, the sayings of the Vikings. "Friends pass, world passes, but one thing never passes. Word over your deeds."
[9:17] Sin Trenton: And that is how Sumie still is with us, because we remember what she was, what she did and she is still up there with us.
[9:17] Sin Trenton: I don't know about you, but next time I am flying, laggy, sim border crossings, kicking and cursing, as is our lives in SL.. But where we still hang on, because here IS Life
[9:18] Sin Trenton: I will wear something red.
[9:18] Sin Trenton smiles: Because that is the colour of Life and the colour of Sumie
[9:18] Sin Trenton: Sumie, thanks for having met you
[9:18] Sin Trenton steps back
[9:19] Zoe Connolly: anyone else have a few words?
[2008/12/20 9:19] Denver Hax: if i may?
[2008/12/20 9:19] Zoe Connolly: please go ahead Denver
[2008/12/20 9:19] Denver Hax: I will always smile when I think of Sumie, she always made me smile - Blue Skies Sumie
[2008/12/20 9:19] Vickster Kuhn smiles
[2008/12/20 9:19] Denver Hax steps back
[2008/12/20 9:19] Zoe Connolly: yes indeed ;)
[2008/12/20 9:20] SimplyAmy Iwish smiles
[2008/12/20 9:20] Vickster Kuhn: if i may?
[2008/12/20 9:20] Zoe Connolly: please go ahead Vicks
[2008/12/20 9:21] Vickster Kuhn: just a quote, from her profile..... "The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams." - Elizabeth Gilbert
[2008/12/20 9:21] Sin Trenton smiles and nods
[2008/12/20 9:21] Crosshaven Barbosa: well said
[2008/12/20 9:21] Zoe Connolly: that does sum up her attitude very well
[2008/12/20 9:22] Zoe Connolly: I remember when we chased some Air Pirates across the Firth
[2008/12/20 9:22] SimplyAmy Iwish: Sumie will live on in our hearts and always be our co pilot in the skies
[2008/12/20 9:23] SimplyAmy Iwish nods to Zoe remembering the event
[2008/12/20 9:23] Zoe Connolly: and this little gal with a rifle covered for me when I interrogated a villain
[2008/12/20 9:23] Zoe Connolly smiles
[2008/12/20 9:23] Aether Inglewood smiles
[2008/12/20 9:23] Aether Inglewood: Ever the pirate hunter
[2008/12/20 9:23] Zoe Connolly: yes!
[2008/12/20 9:23] SimplyAmy Iwish: one of my fondest memories as well
[2008/12/20 9:24] Zoe Connolly: or I'd come inworld during lunch hour and see her here tinkering
[2008/12/20 9:24] Zoe Connolly: anyone else with a few words to share?
[2008/12/20 9:25] Zoe Connolly: we're here to celebrate her life as well as mourn....
[2008/12/20 9:26] Zoe Connolly: I've planted a Weeping Cherry Tree in remembrance of her
[2008/12/20 9:26] SimplyAmy Iwish: Just a note that I'm not well with words and still not sure quite what to say as you all have but i offer up my Tribute not in words but in actions and a plane in her honor
[2008/12/20 9:26] Zoe Connolly: courtesy of Annabelle Fanshaw
[2008/12/20 9:26] Annabelle Fanshaw: least I could do
[2008/12/20 9:26] Zoe Connolly: that's wonderful Amy
[2008/12/20 9:27] SimplyAmy Iwish: i like to think she would like to be remembered in that way
[2008/12/20 9:27] Zoe Connolly: As long as this aerodrome is here, Sumie's Tree will remain
[2008/12/20 9:28] SimplyAmy Iwish: pardon me a moment
[2008/12/20 9:28] Zoe Connolly: her Bell Of Hope is attached under a tree branch
[2008/12/20 9:30] Zoe Connolly: Sumie represents what RCAF is all about
[2008/12/20 9:30] Zoe Connolly: an open-source group where we can all contribute and build a real community
[2008/12/20 9:31] Vickster Kuhn: this is really nice... i'm sure she's pleased with it....
[2008/12/20 9:31] Vickster Kuhn wipes away a tear
[2008/12/20 9:31] Zoe Connolly: I'm just here to say, "Yes that's cool! GO with that!...which is what I always told Sumie ;)
[2008/12/20 9:32] Aether Inglewood smiles
[2008/12/20 9:32] SimplyAmy Iwish: so true Zoe
[2008/12/20 9:33] Zoe Connolly: A moment of silence while we all reflect ( 2 Minutes )

[2008/12/20 9:35] Zoe Connolly: Clear Skies, Sumie....Always and forever
[2008/12/20 9:35] Vickster Kuhn: yes.... clear skies.....
[2008/12/20 9:35] Annabelle Fanshaw: yes
[2008/12/20 9:36] Sin Trenton: Always and in all ways, Sumie
[2008/12/20 9:37] SimplyAmy Iwish: /wipes the tears from her eyes
[2008/12/20 9:38] Thadicus Caligari: a fitting personal remembrance for all of us.
[2008/12/20 9:38] Zoe Connolly: thank you all so much for attending.....you're all welcome to stay and chat if you wish
[2008/12/20 9:38] Zoe Connolly: Amy did you rez your airship?
[2008/12/20 9:38] Annabelle Fanshaw: thanks for arranging this Zoe
[2008/12/20 9:39] Zoe Connolly: you're most welcome
[2008/12/20 9:39] Sin Trenton nods: Thank you, Zoe
[2008/12/20 9:39] SimplyAmy Iwish: yes thank you zoe
[2008/12/20 9:39] Zoe Connolly: RCAF needed this for some sense of closure
[2008/12/20 9:39] SimplyAmy Iwish gave you Sumie Tribute.
[2008/12/20 9:40] Thadicus Caligari: it will take awhile for that but this helps. Thank you
[2008/12/20 9:40] Zoe Connolly: yes indeed
[2008/12/20 9:40] Sin Trenton: Indeed it does.
[2008/12/20 9:41] Zoe Connolly: tomorrow we'll dogfight in honor of Sumie
[2008/12/20 9:41] Sin Trenton: I'm afraid I am completely lagged out, and RL duties are waiting, but thank you everyone. Fair skies, and see you upstairs.
[2008/12/20 9:41] Zoe Connolly: see you soon, Sin
[2008/12/20 9:41] Zoe Connolly: tc
[2008/12/20 9:41] Cornelius Fanshaw: Goodbye Sin
[2008/12/20 9:41] Denver Hax: bye Cap'n
[2008/12/20 9:41] SimplyAmy Iwish salutes
[2008/12/20 9:42] Thadicus Caligari: Good Day Sir
[2008/12/20 9:42] SimplyAmy Iwish: fair skies Sin
[2008/12/20 9:42] Avery Robbiani: Take care, Sin.
[2008/12/20 9:42] Sin Trenton: You too, my friends
[2008/12/20 9:42] Aether Inglewood sniffs "I was fine until Taps"
[2008/12/20 9:43] Zoe Connolly sighs sadly
[2008/12/20 9:43] Aether Inglewood: I'm thinking of heading to Prop Spinners and raising a glass or two in her honor
[2008/12/20 9:43] Zoe Connolly: that's a great idea Aether!
[2008/12/20 9:43] GoSpeed Racer: I second that Aether
[2008/12/20 9:43] Crosshaven Barbosa: yeah
[2008/12/20 9:43] SimplyAmy Iwish: i must attend to rl errand
[2008/12/20 9:43] Zoe Connolly: she'd love that
[2008/12/20 9:44] SimplyAmy Iwish: i will drop by if still there when i return in a few
[2008/12/20 9:44] Vickster Kuhn: yes... i'm sure she'd kick our butts for moping around anyway
[2008/12/20 9:44] SimplyAmy Iwish: i shall fly off in her honor though
[2008/12/20 9:44] Zoe Connolly: you're right Vicks
[2008/12/20 9:44] Zoe Connolly: it's time to celebrate her life with dance and drink ;)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Sumie's Tree - RCAF Dedication Ceremony

Group Notice From: Zoe Connolly, Royal Caledon Air Force, Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance....

No Dogfight on Saturday the 20th.

Instead there will be a dedication ceremony for the Weeping Cherry Tree planted in loving memory of Group Captain Sumie Kawashima, who passed in RL on Friday 12 December.

Ceremony will begin at 9:00 AM Saturday the 20th

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The OpenSpace sims of Extropia are gone....

More sad news for aviators in Second Life as 3 more OpenSpace sims disappear from SL and the map of Extropia.

I have many fond and fun memories flying there and chatting with friends. Several of my machinima were captured there and the old sims can be viewed in the background.

I should note that one of the old OS sims was converted to a full-sim and it promises to be a spectacular place, but for those of us in the aviation community, it means there are 3 less places to fly.



Monday, December 15, 2008

Sumie Kawashima - Caledon and RCAF loses a dear lady



I'm shocked and saddened to hear that a dear friend in SecondLife has passed away in RealLife. I'll miss you Sumie :(

May you fly in the heavens and show God your latest new airplane....

Group Notice From: Gabrielle Riel

Sumie Kawashima passed away in RL Friday evening, Dec 12 of complications from a bone infection. Sumie's rezday was Aug 13, 2007, & she became a Caledon resident soon thereafter. A designer, builder, and test pilot of various aircraft, she founded Kawashima Aero. Sumie was a Group Captain in the Royal Caledon Air Force, head of the Risen Demons, and demon-protectress of the Tamrannoch Sanitorium. Her friends will sorely miss her. Memorial service will be announced at a later date. Boing boing, Sumie.


Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunday Dec 14th @ 7:00 PM SL time....

From my esteemed colleague Hotspur Otoole in the Fleet of Wrath Exiles



He writes:
On December 14, 2008, the Fleet of Wrath Exiles will host a formal DINING IN ceremony for members of Second Life military organizations; dress is formal uniform if at all possible, formal civilian if possible. There will be music, toasts and dancing after the presentation of the beef and salutary remarks by the Mess President. Location is Artificial Isle, United Sailing Sims. Our host, Mr. Zatzai Asturias, will be granting us his kind permission and access to his facilities for the event....


Please read further here

RCAF pilots and officers are encouraged to participate in this evenings ceremonies.

For more information on social usage and protocol please click here.

Special Agent :: Zabrina McMahon

A title change and new mission for Zabrina's blog....

Special Agent :: Zabrina McMahon

International Woman of Intrigue for the Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA).
CIA HQ: London.
Front Group: Celestial Bodies Modeling Agency.
Our mission: Keeping Earth safe from Super-Villains, Rogue Agents, Malevolent Extraterrestrials, Temporal Anomalies, and Bureaucratic Red-Tape.

Special Agent :: Zabrina McMahon

Our teleportation devices, courtesy of Mr. Cornelius Fanshaw of "C" Branch





Our swinging office in London (Dec. 1966)



The Feted Inner Core Top Secret Meeting Room



Friday, December 12, 2008

It's a Steelhead Life!

Follow the adventures of one T Eclipse, a much bigger guy in his tiny town of eccentrics than he EVER realized. The adventure is.. eerily familiar.

Animation: JibJab
Film: Hotspur O'Toole

Zoe Connolly's Christmas Party

An invitation to all my friends in Second Life, including members of Extropia Defense Force, Girls with Guns, Royal Caledon Air Force, and the Second Life Bloggers.

I'm throwing a Big Band/Swing Party featuring both Christmas and non-holiday tunes from the 30s and 40s as well as "new school" swing from a more recent era ;)

7:00 PM (19:00) SL time Saturday December 13th
Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance

Radio Riel DJ (Sir Lordy Sir) Duke Edward Pearse (RCAF Vice Air Marshal and splendid SL Blogger within the Victorian Steampunk Community) will be spinning the tunes Saturday evening.

EDF/RCAF Air Combat for December 13th and 14th

For the weekend of December 13th and 14th:

Our scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 13th of December at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our dogfight on Sunday the 14th of December at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Robot Sale - Discount on ZCT Model E 223

Zoetrope Cryotank is an art deco design digital neko personal robot.

This ZCT - Model E unit 223, manufactured December 2025 at the Neko Robotics Assembly Plant in Auburn Hills Michigan.

Cosmetic damage to upper right arm and shoulder. Arm is still fully functional.





Further specifications available upon request to....

Neko Robotics, Inc. World Headquarters, Detroit Michigan



The next generation ZCT - Model F series will be available Autumn 2026.



Don't miss the next Detroit Android Show in January 2027.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Weekend Photographs December 6th and 7th

Zoe'z in ur offis chekin ur statz....



Oh dear this cannot be good! Alts are unhappy and in need of some Grid time!



Zabrina gets new "Shupah-Shpy" employment in swinging 60s London! More on this in the near future.



Zoe makes a new friend and goes back to Steampowered Nuts for a great new outfit....and guns!



Yes, I said guns! Yay!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Zoe's morning Sortie

This machinima is full of continuity errors ;)

I tossed these shots and edits together in one hour. I think it illustrates great potential for integrating 2 or more game platform captures into a single machinima for more interesting story-telling. Imagine what could be done with more time and effort.

Suggestion for this idea came from Phineas Messmer. Thanks Phin ;)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

EVE Online Introduction

The backstory video for EVE Online.

(My character name in EVE Online is Faith Flintlock)



Sorry about the *ping* sound. I forgot to turn-off my Twirl Twitter-App ;)




Monday, December 1, 2008

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: A Report from Sundays AAA Dogfight at Aeronautica

A report from Karl Reisman (thanks for the email Karl)....

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: A Report from Sundays AAA Dogfight at Aeronautica

Text and Photos below by Mifune Thibaud:

Wrapup of AAA's first combat event - Success!
Thank you to everyone who came and participated, moderators/instructors and visitors!


[11-30-08]
Our first event was a big success! We had a respectable turnout of pilots, many of whom stayed all the wayfrom 12:00 - 2:30 SLT! (the event was only intended to be 1hr long, but everyone got very involved in the battles)

For this event we organized team based combat, using VICE. We split the pilots up into two teams, [AAA] for the pilots that would fly out from Aeronautica, and [URI] for those that would fly from the Undinian Rebel Island. We had a best 3 out of 5 competition where our pilots engaged in 3vs3 and 4vs4 combat. Scarlet Flak's URI wound up winning the event that day, but the AAA pilots put up a hell of a fight, with the event going all the way to 5 rounds. It was a good day and everyone had a lot fun.

We will be having another event next week, and we will try something new to keep things fresh. If you missed out on the event today, try to make it to the next event and invite some people!

Our events are always free, and they are not just combat related. Come join us
-Mifune Thibaud



Click the link for more photos and text...

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: A Report from Sundays AAA Dogfight at Aeronautica

Test Shot for Caledon OpenSpace (void) Sim Machinima

Test Shot for Caledon OpenSpace (void) Sim Machinima

This is a test for a Second Life machinima currently under production through December 2008. The intention for this was to demonstrate (mostly to myself), camera shots with an audio track. The 5 minute video will be made in recognition and honor of Caledon's soon-to-be lost OpenSpace (void) sims. I'm hopeful the intended video will be made available by 31 December 2008.

UPDATE: Important comment from Otenth Paderborn reposted here....

Just so no one reads your post and gets the wrong idea, as far as I know at this time, no sims will be disappearing from Caledon. A few will change names. Several are changing hands. And at least one open space sim will be converted into a full sim (and renamed).

The remaining open space sims, of course, will have avatar limits and, we are told, some sort of scripting limits such that they will no longer be suitable for some of the events we have previously held in them.

Winterfell and Brythony, on the other hand, have not fared so well, and have already undergone consolidation into a smaller number of sims.


24 (Redemption)

Sunday, November 30, 2008

IL2 Machinima - Blitzerg

a machinima from oddeo77

SL Bloggers Christmas Party 2008


(Zoe and Phin on Christmas Day 2007)

Like last year, I'll be holding our Christmas Party in Caledon.

This year it will take place Saturday December 14th.

I'll have more details about the start time and exact location as it becomes available.

Also invited are EDF, RCAF, and members of Girls with Guns.

EDF/RCAF Dogfights - Our final scheduled weeks




Please read my previous post "RCAF is here to stay."


Our Organized Dogfighting Days will come to a close in January 2009.
Come out and celebrate our last few weeks of air combat. We will still engage in one-on-one dogfights and with the growing number of super-villains, our roleplay within Caledon will most certainly increase ;)

The following list is our remaining scheduled dogfights for 2008. Times and locations are subject to change....

********************************************

For Sunday November 30th:

Our next dogfight will take place on Sunday the 30th of November at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.



********************************************

For the weekend of December 6th and 7th:

Our scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 6th of December at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the 6th at 6:00 PM (18:00) SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our dogfight on Sunday the 7th of December at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

**********************************************

For the weekend of December 13th and 14th:

Our scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 13th of December at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the 13th at 6:00 PM (18:00) SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our dogfight on Sunday the 14th of December at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

**********************************************

For the weekend of December 20th and 21th:

Our scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 20th of December at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the 20th at 6:00 PM (18:00) SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our dogfight on Sunday the 21th of December at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

**********************************************

For the final weekend of scheduled dogfights December 27th and 28th:

Our scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 27th of December at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the 27th at 6:00 PM (18:00) SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our last scheduled dogfight will take place on Sunday the 28th of December at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Please read my previous post "RCAF is here to stay."

A few reminders....

1) We will no longer schedule multi-aircraft air combat (known as dogfight furballs) in SL after the New Year. This is the biggest change in what RCAF does, but please note that the change is only in SCHEDULING MORE THAN TWO AIRCRAFT to dogfight. Let me repeat a keyword in this....Scheduling Scheduling Scheduling...whew!

2) Pilots are always welcome to use group chat to find one another for a dogfight anywhere they wish, so long as it's allowed by the sim owner(s)/manager(s).

3) Air Combat will still be a viable option for the foreseeable future in Aeronautica owned by Mifune Thibaud.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

IL-2 Test Machinima 1

An experimental machinima from Zoe Connolly and Phineas Messmer using IL-2 Sturmovik 1946. Zoe and Phin are Second Life avatars venturing in the alternate gaming platform of IL-2 for the Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) and Extropia Defense Force (EDF).

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The Heliograph: Airship Races in Antiquity this weekend!

Passing this news along (curtsy to Rafael Fabre)

The Heliograph: Airship Races in Antiquity this weekend!



('My Airship', by Shawn Kun, Deviant Art)

Received this message during my efforts to construct an edifice..

Welcome to the second Antiquity airship race! This year, there are two classes, physical engines and non-physical engines.

Again, these crafts must be steampowered, whether that be or prop or steam jet (as long as it is steam). The first race starts at 12:30 SLT in Antiquity, on Saturday, the 22nd of November.

1st prize in both races is L$5000.

The 'Physical Engine' class will run first, followed by the 'Non-Physical Engine'.

The course will be available prior to the race start.

Good luck to all!

For more information, please contact Sion Tendaze in-world.

The Heliograph: Airship Races in Antiquity this weekend!

Royal Flying Corp

Some aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corp during World War 1

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

TV Mashup - "Enterprise" with theme "From The Earth To The Moon"

Just some fun stuff I found on YouTube



Original From the Earth to the Moon



Original Enterprise intro



Star Trek Enterprise: In A Mirror Darkly Intro Theme - Original Music



Fun Extra! Destination Moon ~ Dinah Washington

The League of Virtual Vixens Teaser 2

from Botgirl Questi....

5 Days of Fact and Fiction

Originally posted on Boned Wednesday 12 November 2008 for the SLBloggers Mix&Match Scheme ;)

A week ago I was given a TPS Report without courtesy of a cover sheet. Ignoring this little oversight, I read further. In this case the acronym TPS stood for "The Post Switch" as in the SLBloggers Mix & Match Challenge.

My assignment: Write about my 5 days away from SL and any SL related social media. I was not to login or post anything to Twitter, Plurk, etc. This was definitely cruel and unusual punishment, deviously outlined and insitigated by the infamous Botgirl Questi.

It was Sunday evening and my 5 days away from SL would begin after I logged off that night. I decided to make the most of it by having as much virtual sex with as many avatars as I could. Once several parcels were strewn with dozens of avatars with ambulatory issues, I logged off...dreaming of a new era for me in the real world. I've heard so much about it lately.

Day One: Worked RL Job. Read RL Blogs and various sites for US Election news. Dreamed about flying. Tormented my brother.

Day Two: Election Day. Voted. Went to work. Read more crap about the election.

Day Three: President-Elect Obama calls and asks if I would join his cabinet as Defense Secretary. Obama says he needs a diverse Cabinet and thinks a kick-ass virtual girl with guns who runs a virtual air force sends the right message of diversity and an alternative low-carbon footprint defense posture. I graciously accept as the first virtual world avatar to fill a Presidential Cabinet position. Huzzah!

Day Four: I get my affairs in order for relocation to Virginia and my new job at the Pentagon.

Day Five: Was very thankful for my week free from SL.

So there you have my week.

Huh? What?.... You don't believe this happened?

Perhaps you'll believe this one....


Day One: So far so good. Okay. I can get through this.

Day Two: Biting my nails. Irritable. Snapping at co-workers.

Day Three: Still irritable. Anger issues surface. After work I buy wine. I get home, watch TV, drink several glasses, and sob quietly at my keyboard.

Day Four: My hair is a mess today. No make-up. I'm all about the wine today. Can't wait to get home.

Day Five: I call in sick (hungover). I stay in bed most of the day.

Hah! Well this didn't happen either.

The truth of my 5 Day Experiment....

Days One Through Five:
I was inworld everyday. I even thought of cheating and using an alt, but still... I popped inworld for at least 10 minutes as Zoe.

Truth is....

Although I spend far less time in SL as I once did, I would miss my friends if I was away too long, and 5 days is too long.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Botgirl's Second Life Diary: Expose' on Real Cause of Second Life Affairs and Divorces

Our diabolical scheme!

Botgirl's Second Life Diary: Expose' on Real Cause of Second Life Affairs and Divorces

Mwah hah hah!

RCAF is here to stay!

Some clarification is in order as rumors seem to spin out of control like a Biplane in a stall ....



The Royal Caledon Air Force is NOT...I repeat....RCAF is NOT leaving Second Life or our beloved Caledon.

We will continue our role among the leaders within SL Aviation and related Caledon roleplay.

RCAF is changing only a few things we do within SL.

1) We will no longer schedule multi-aircraft air combat (known as dogfight furballs) in SL after the New Year. This is the biggest change in what RCAF does, but please note that the change is only in SCHEDULING MORE THAN TWO AIRCRAFT to dogfight. Let me repeat a keyword in this....Scheduling Scheduling Scheduling...whew!

2) Pilots are always welcome to use group chat to find one another for a dogfight anywhere they wish, so long as it's allowed by the sim owner(s)/manager(s).



3) Air Combat will still be a viable option for the foreseeable future in Aeronautica owned by Mifune Thibaud.



4) Hard-Core flight simulator pilots interested in a different air combat experience may join us using IL-2 Sturmovik 1946, but this is NOT a requirement.



5) Many of our pilots are content to roleplay or do scouting missions in balloons or airships, never participating in our weekend dogfights anyway. This is all part of a dynamic and inclusive group as I've always intended. We're not ALL about dogfighting ONLY. We love to do many things within Caledon and SL.

6) When I began RCAF in conjunction with starting Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance, I could only dream of flying the planes I fly now. My previous computer would not allow me the luxury of the flying experience I enjoy today. I made adjustments then.... and I'll make adjustments in the future as my flight experiences decline thanks to the loss of Openspace (VOID) sims. Do I like it? Hell no! But whining and complaining won't do a frakking thing.

7) We will get through this together. We are a creative bunch of pilots and SL residents. I'm sure we'll all take stock in what we have here in SL and what we can do in the future (both within SL and using other platforms). Most things will remain in SL. Only a handful of things will move to other virtual worlds or gaming platforms.

8) As angry and sad as many of us are, Linden Labs will do whatever it does regardless of any of our noisy selves. I agree with Eladrienne. Caledon may change but we WILL survive as a nation. And Caledon WILL have the Royal Caledon Air Force as part of her protection and defense.

9) Whether this Openspace fiasco was a conspiracy or some messy accident, I have little trust in Linden Labs. Perhaps this will change over time.

10) As I've stated before.... my activities in SL are a hobby.... and I can take my money elsewhere if and when the time comes. For now, I remain.... And if I choose to leave SL forever, there are people I trust who will carry on RCAF and my vision for as long as SL remains a viable virtual world.

~ Zoe Connolly, RCAF

The Death Of Vinnie Linden

isfullofcrap writes: "Never heard of Vinnie Linden? Maybe it's best you never did."

Saturday, November 15, 2008

RCAF Pilot Briefing - Changes in January 2009

Attention all Royal Caledon Air Force pilots:

I will hold a pilots meeting at the Connolly Aerodrome following Sundays Dogfight (November 16th). All concerned SL residents are welcome to attend.

Reason for the meeting:
Due to upcoming changes to OpenSpace (VOID) Sims, our Organized Dogfighting Days will come to a close in January 2009. Come out and celebrate our last few weeks of multi-aircraft combat in November and December. I plan to capture as much video of our dogfights as possible between now and the end of the year.

We will still engage in one-on-one dogfights -- and with the growing number of super-villains, our roleplay within Caledon will most certainly increase ;)

We will also discuss our plans to use IL-2 as an offGrid air combat game platform for our dogfighting.

Air Combat for November 15th and 16th



Please note: Our Organized Dogfighting Days will come to a close in January 2009. Come out and celebrate our last few weeks of air combat. We will still engage in one-on-one dogfights and
with the growing number of super-villains, our roleplay within Caledon will most certainly increase ;)

This weekends scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the 15th of November at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the 15th at 6:00 PM (18:00) SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

Our dogfight on Sunday the 16th of November at 9 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.